August 22, 2011
Sheboygan, WI

Team Maclaren arrived last night and today after many delayed flights and cancellations for the 2011 Buddy Melges Challenge in Sheboygan, WI.

We came in from different places, from different activities. Molly and Debbie were at home working - Debbie at her ice cream store and Molly at the sail camp she runs. I was crewing for my husband at the Grade 2 Detroit Cup where we finished 5th. Although it has only been one week since the team was together, hopping back in the boats again today felt very good.

We had a successful day of practice today; racing starts tomorrow morning. We spent two hours on the water refreshing and practicing specific manourvers before we did some practice prestarts. We started the morning with a grocery shop as Molly and I waited for Debbie to get here after her flight was cancelled last night and then delayed enough this morning that she missed her connection. Tonight we are having a birthday dinner for our coach Dave Dellenbaugh. It was his birthday yesterday, but since we all got in late, we decided we would celebrate his birthday today. 

Racing starts tomorrow at 9am. There are 16 teams competing from eight different countries over the five scheduled days of racing. The format is for a 16 team round robin and then quarterfinal, semi final, and final knockout series. The forecast is for good wind all week long so completing the ambitious schedule should be no problem. You can follow the regatta at the regatta website.

We would very much like to thank our Title Sponsor, Maclaren, our Gold Level Sponsors 11th Hour Racing and Laser Performance, and our Bronze Level Sponsors Carmeuse, Trinity Yachts, and Chicago Match Race Center for their continued support of our campaign for the 2012 Olympic Games. We would also like to thank US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics (USSTAG) and its sponsors for their continued support. Also, thank you to our private donors. Please remember that any and all donations/contributions to our campaign should be made payable directly to either The Sailing Foundation of New York (tax deductible) memo'd Anna Tunnicliffe, or to Anna Tunnicliffe.

Sail Hard,

And as usual, don't forget, email us your questions and comments.  We love getting them and sharing our love of sailing and women's match racing.